Toxicology Commons^™

Methodology For Environmental Toxicology: Assessing Feeding And Rearing Strategies In Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Nigricans) Larvae, Amber Hitchins, Hannah Mcneese, Deise Cruz, Andrew Todd, Maria Sepúlveda, Tyler Hoskins

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are an anthropogenic group of chemicals known for their persistence in the environment and their potential to bioaccumulate. PFAS can bioaccumulate in largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans), yet the effects of exposure on bass larvae are unknown. While largemouth bass are commonly raised for aquaculture, techniques for rearing bass which enable controlled experiments at known densities, a necessity for toxicity studies, are poorly understood. Furthermore, the live prey typically used in existing approaches are not suitable for PFAS studies due to high background concentrations. The objective of this project was to assess different venues …

Integration Of Mechanism-Driven Computational Modeling And Public Data Resources For Chemical Toxicity Assessment, Elena Chung

Theses and Dissertations

Regulatory toxicology depends primarily on animal testing, which limits throughput, mechanistic interpretability, and applicability to human-relevant endpoints. This dissertation presents computational approaches that integrate publicly available bioactivity data with machine learning to support chemical safety evaluation. Oral carcinogenicity was modeled using curated chemicals from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) and activity data from over 1,900 PubChem assays. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models trained on statistically prioritized assays demonstrated strong predictive performance and were applied to rank the carcinogenic potential of more than 16,000 compounds. Hepatotoxicity was evaluated using a hybrid modeling approach that combined structural …

Yiqi Yangyin Tongluo Prescription Targets Lncrna Vim-As1 To Regulate Foxk2/Mtor To Promote Autophagy And Inhibit Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Apoptosis, Rucui Yu, Ruiying Wu, Tingting Chen, Jingwei Xu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one dominating reason for death in diabetic patients, and its incidence is high. It has been reported that Yiqi Yangyin Tongluo prescription (YYTP) can relieve inflammation, and it owns better clinical effects in the treatment of DN. However, the molecular mechanisms of YYTP in the treatment of DN still keep unclear, and deeply investigations are needed. In this study, it firstly was manifested that YYTP can repress the lncRNA VIM-antisense 1 (VIM-AS1) expression in high glucose (HG)-evoked HK-2 cells. Overexpression of VIM-AS1 roll-backed the inhibitive impacts of YYTP on cell apoptosis in HG-triggered HK-2 cells. Additionally, …

Evaluating The Cost-Effectiveness Of Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab In Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Insights From Taiwan, Tsung-Wei Chang, Wei-Chiao Chang, Wan-Hsuan Chou, Wei-Pin Chang, Chun-Nan Kuo

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Following the observed significant improvements in overall survival and progression-free survival in clinical trials, the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab has been recommended as a first-line therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite its clinical benefits, the high cost associated with this treatment poses a substantial challenge in routine practice in Taiwan. This study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in comparison to sorafenib monotherapy. This study utilized partitioned survival analysis and extrapolated survival over a 20-year horizon to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis from the perspective of the National Health Insurance Administration. Efficacy and utility data …

Ping-Chong-Jiang-Ni Formula Effectively Inhibits Migration And Invasion Of Endometriosis 12z Cell Line Via Trip13, Jiahua Peng, Shuzhen Liu, Yunxiang Xie, Min Xiao, Chichiu Wang, Ruining Liang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The Ping-Chong-Jiang-Ni Formula (PCJNF), a compound of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has demonstrated remarkable clinical effectiveness and is widely utilized in the treatment of endometriosis (EMs). Previous studies have shown that PCJNF inhibits the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs) by modulating the JNK signaling pathway. In our most recent study, published in January 2024, we found that PCJNF effectively alleviates EMs-associated pain by reducing inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nerve growth factor (NGF). Furthermore, PCJNF down-

regulates the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), phosphorylated TRPV1 (p-TRPV1), and protein …

In Vitro Metabolic Profiling Of Methylenedioxy-Substituted Synthetic Cathinones For Enhanced Detection In Urine Sample Analysis, Ya-Ling Yeh, Chin-Lin Hsieh, Yi-Jia Huang, Yu-Hsiang Chang, Sheng-Meng Wang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Synthetic cathinones are a widely abused class of new psychoactive substances that pose significant challenges in forensic toxicology owing to their complex metabolic pathways and lack of verified reference standards. This study investigated the in vitro metabolism of nine methylenedioxy-substituted synthetic cathinones, including methylone and eight structural isomers, which were categorized into three groups: Group 1 (dimethylone, ethylone, and butylone), Group 2 (dibutylone, pentylone, and eutylone), and Group 3 (N-ethylpentylone and dipentylone). Pooled human liver microsomes, cytosol, and uridine diphosphate glucuronic acid were used to identify phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ metabolites by liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Key pathways included …

Integrating Network Analysis And Experimental Validation To Reveal The Ferroptosis-Associated Mechanism Of Velvet Antler In The Treatment Of Chronic Atrophic Gastritis, Quan Liao, Zhenzhen Guo, Chenchun Ding, Renjie Zuo, Guoyan Liu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is precancerosis with limited treatment options. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of velvet antler (VA), a traditional natural medicine, on CAG, with a focus on ferroptosis. In vivo experiments demonstrated the efficacy of VA in alleviating CAG, and network pharmacology analysis revealed its involvement in related terms, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell proliferation. Analyses further confirmed the modulation of ferroptosis by VA, particularly via the Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 pathway. In vitro assays supported these findings, demonstrating the ability of VA to reduce methylnitronitrosoguanidine-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis in GES-1. This study provides a basis for …

Jiao San Xian Granule Containing Prebiotic Alleviate Functional Dyspepsia By Regulating Intestinal Flora And The Secretion Of Inflammatory Response, Huimin Pei, Mengyuan Zhao, Hongyue Wang, Xindi Zhang, Caihong Shi, Xiangrong Zhang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Jiao Sanxian (JSX) consists of three traditional Chinese medicine including charred hawthorn, malt and Liu Shen Qu, they are also from Chinese medicine homologous food. It is commonly used to relieve functional dyspepsia (FD). The present study aims to explore the mechanism of JSX (granule), with the addition of prebiotics for the treatment of FD using mice model. The network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to forecast therapeutic targets for JSX. Based on the protein-protein interaction (PPI) results, thirteen targets exhibited strong interactions with each other. The results of network pharmacology and molecular docking revealed therapeutic activity of JSX …

Regulatory Framework And Challenges For Live Biotherapeutic Products In Taiwan, Shirley Pan, Jia-Chuan Hsu, Kuo-Teng Hung, Ching-Jung Ho

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Products containing live microorganisms may be classified as food or drugs depending on their intended use; live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) with therapeutic claims are defined as medicinal products containing live bacteria or yeasts intended to prevent or treat disease. Based on their characteristics, LBPs are classified as biological drugs and must be registered as biological drugs before they can enter the Taiwanese market. As research into the microbiota and its role in health and disease continues to advance, LBPs are expected to play an increasingly important role in medicine and biotechnology. With the growing popularity of microbial applications in recent …

Aspergillosis: A Comprehensive Review Of Pathogenesis, Drug Resistance, And Emerging Therapeutics, Amanpreet Singh, Jeewanjot Singh, Sandeep Kumar

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Aspergillosis stands as a primary opportunistic fungal infection which mainly results from Aspergillus fumigatus events that have gained more importance because of its multiple infection patterns and developing antifungal resistance. Healthcare providers identify two main ends of the aspergillosis spectrum which include allergic responses and invasive systemic infections that affect mainly immunocompromised subjects. This review presents a detailed summary for understanding the epidemiology of aspergillosis along with its risk factors as well as pathogenesis and host immune response and diagnostic difficulties. The analysis puts significant weight on increasing azole and echinocandin resistance that has become worse because of agricultural and …

Pesticides As Multiple Stressors To Bivalves And Echinoderms, Alexandra Gabrielle Tissot

Dissertations and Theses

Pesticides are ubiquitous in aquatic environments, alongside numerous contaminants and other stressors that can result in combined exposure to target and non-target organisms. Nevertheless, traditional toxicity studies quantify the effects of these compounds at an individual level, and to a narrow range of traditional test organisms. Through this dissertation, I explored the presence and effects of commonly detected pesticides of concern in the Pacific Northwest in order to realistically quantify potential effects from combined stressors. In Chapter 2, I demonstrated my background knowledge on these select pesticides (atrazine, bifenthrin, diuron, indaziflam, and imidacloprid), including their chemical and physical properties. Using …

The Possible Cardioprotectiveeffect Of Empagliflozin During Endotoxemia In Mice Model, Safwa Miqdad Al-Killidar, Bashaer M. Muhammad-Baqir

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Background:Sepsis is a major complication for seriously ill people with shock, major infections, serious burns, or severe trauma. Inflammation imbalance is the primary underlying cause of sepsis progression and persists continuously over the entire sepsis course. Empagliflozin is an orally administered medication for diabetes that selectively inhibits sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 to improve kidney elimination of glucose. It has been discovered that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 exhibit anti inflammation and multiple effects, suggesting that they may be beneficial and prevent infections. Aim of study:This study was undertaken to assess Empagliflozin's cardioprotective efficacy in septic mice through its potent anti- inflammatory …

Quick And Easy Method For The Determination Of Cocaine And Six Metabolites In Postmortem Hair, Samantha C. Mulkeen

Student Theses

Hair testing is increasing in popularity in toxicology because of its long window of detection and ease of collection and sample storage. However, it has its limitations largely due to external contamination of drugs. In particular, cocaine (COC) is a common offender of this as it has several routes of consumption. Analyzing metabolites of COC may be the key to distinguishing between consumption and external contamination. The aim of the present study was to develop a quick, easy, and sensitive method for the detection and quantification of COC, benzoylecgonine (BE), norcocaine (NCOC), cocaethylene (CE), anhydroecgonine methyl ester (AEME), meta-hydroxy-cocaine (m-OH-COC), …

Parents Perceived First Aid Skills In Dealing With The Ingested Poisoning Products, Saudi Arabia, A Cross-Sectional Study, Maher Hassan Nahari, Bsaim Abdulsalam Altirkistani, Athoub Nasser Kadasa, Saleh Salah Alilwani Et.Al.

Saudi Toxicology Journal

Introduction: Toxins are substances that can lead to harmful effects when introduced to the body. Accidental poisonings remain a critical concern for pediatric health, so understanding the nature of toxins and the potential risks associated with them is a fundamental aspect of child safety. Parents' knowledge and attitudes towards toxins and poisoning incidents significantly influence the outcomes of accidental exposures. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study conducted across various regions of Saudi Arabia in March 2024. Participants were selected by convenience sampling. A total of 1,997 participants took the self-administered questionnaire. Results: The majority of the participants are married …

Pfas Levels In Hair: Comparing Us Populations To Global Trends, Ashef Ameer

Student Theses

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals that raise significant toxicological concerns due to their environmental persistence and potential health hazards. This research examines the presence and concentration of selected PFAS compounds in human hair samples from volunteers in New York, comparing these results with global trends found in peer-reviewed research. Hair was selected as the biological matrix for its non-invasive collection method, ability to reflect exposure, and long-term chemical stability. For analysis, a validated LCMS/ MS technique was utilized to analyze hair samples (n = 27) for three compounds: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluoroheptanoic acid …

Sodium Valproate-Induced Hyperemesis In A Patient Post-Bariatric Surgery, Mohammed Alsubhi, Khalid Alharb, Bandar Alrehaili

Saudi Toxicology Journal

Long-term treatment of patients with medications is associated with adverse drug reactions and continues to be a challenge. Sodium valproate is commonly used to treat bipolar disorder and epilepsy. It can induce adverse gastrointestinal effects, and its absorption may vary depending on the excipient used. In this case study, a middle-aged woman with a history of bipolar disorder developed hyperemesis after the use of a generic sodium valproate formulation. The patient had undergone gastric sleeve surgery 3 years ago and lost weight. Using generic formulation of sodium valproate stimulated vomiting 3 years after the patient had been tolerating the branded …

Menthalactone From Mentha Piperita L., A Monocot-Selective Bioherbicide, Adam Soltani

Honors Theses

The challenge of managing invasive weed species continues to affect the agricultural industry, presenting ecological, economic, and agronomic hurdles that lead to over 100 billion USD in annual crop losses globally. One such concern is the management of Agrostis stolonifera L., commonly known as creeping bentgrass, particularly due to its ability to form hybrids. This scenario underscores the urgent need for innovative, effective, and environmentally sustainable herbicides, steering the focus toward natural substances as potential candidates. We report here a promising natural lactone, commonly known as menthalactone, which is derived from Mentha piperita L. Its phytotoxic activity was assessed against …

Rising Use Of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors And The Escalating Burden Of Gastrointestinal And Hepatic Toxicities: A Nine-Year Analysis, Donghyun Ko, Do Han Kim Md, Pedro Palacios Argueta Md, Wilhelm S. Basegoda Md, Jose A. Porres, Francis F. Fadi, Jana G. Hashash, Francis A. Farraye, Paul T. Kroner Md

Posters

The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including programmed death 1 (PD-1), PD-L1, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, has revolutionized cancer therapeutics, markedly improving survival in various malignancies. However, their expanding utilization has been paralleled by the emergence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs), particularly gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatic toxicities, which pose significant challenges in clinical practice. These toxicities can manifest as a spectrum of conditions, from mild transient symptoms to severe, life-threatening complications, necessitating a better understanding of their prevalence and trends. This study aims to evaluate the temporal changes in ICI use and associated GI and hepatic …

Stromal Cells In The Small Intestine: Physiology, Localization, Function, And Alterations Induced By Chronic Arsenic Exposure, Scott Ventrello

All Dissertations

Arsenic is a prevalent toxicant found to affect around 94 to 240 million individuals in over fifty countries who are exposed to levels above the EPA and WHO standard of 10 ppb. As one of WHO’s top ten chemicals of public health concern, it is linked to several chronic diseases including diabetes, obesity, cancers, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Arsenic increases inflammation and disrupts the intestinal barrier in the small intestine and colon. Further, previous studies found that arsenic decreased secretory cell lineage and stromal cell gene expression markers in the small intestine. Thus, our goal was to investigate arsenic’s effect …

The Effects Of Pfos Exposure On Zebrafish Dopaminergic Neurodevelopment, Allison G. Fletcher

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of environmental contaminants that cause disruptions to the nervous and endocrine systems. Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) is considered one of the most disruptive PFAS to the nervous system, and may disrupt neurodevelopment of the dopaminergic system, which has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders like Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in humans. I hypothesized that early life PFOS exposure disrupts the development of the dopaminergic system. To test this hypothesis, I exposed zebrafish to 0.05, 0.5, and 5.0 mg/L PFOS through 5 days of embryonic and larval development. To assess acute effects of PFOS on the …